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Ring Light Vs Softbox Light – Which is Better for Your Videos?

We’re going to be comparing Ring Lights vs Softbox lights to see which better suits your video productions needs. The ring light and the softbox light are both essential parts of your film arsenal and should each be utilized differently.

Ring Light Vs Softbox Light – Pros and Cons

A ring light is a disc shaped light typically lined with LEDs that is very popular among beauty YouTubers and vloggers. Ring lights have a convenient spot for your camera right in the center, allowing them to create an angelic halo like effect around your face.

Pros

Great for close-ups and face shots.

Creates a very stylistic effect.

Great for Beauty YouTubers and vloggers.

Very simple to set-up and use, takes up little space, can fit on a desk.

Create a shadow/halo around your face which is considered very flattering by many.

Cons

Limited to close ups and face shots.

Catchlights take the form of rings in your eyes and look very unnatural or distracting (although some people like them).

Staring directly into the ring is considered unpleasant by some.

Often constructed with LEDs, need to replace the whole unit if defective.

A softbox light is a type of light that uses scattering material to create a soft diffused light. The term softbox refers to the enclosure around the bulb which is lined with reflective material on all sides except one. These are used to create indirect lighting and are often utilized in conjunction with other light sources.

Pros

Much more versatile in terms of potential lighting set-ups.

Great for general purpose lighting.

Great in conjunction with other lights.

Can reach any level of softness or hardness with proper use.

Easy to replace your bulb if it goes out.

Cons

Take up more space when set-up, can be much more difficult to understand and use properly.

Ring Light Vs Softbox Light – A Side by Side comparison

Here’s a screenshot from YouTuber Lily Highlands that shows the difference side by side.

The difference is relatively marginal. I think the Ring Light is slightly more flattering but not by any extreme. As you can see shadows around her face are more pronounced and her face has a little bit more of a “glow” to it. The Softbox illuminates more of the background and kind of spills into the entire room.

What may not be obvious however, is the versatility factor. The way she is using a ring light is… Pretty much the only way you can use a ring light. Directly in front of your face.

The softbox lighting set up she’s using is one of hundreds of potential lighting configurations. A softbox is a much more powerful source that can be bounced, combined with other lights and adjusted, but a ring light is only usable in very specific circumstances.

The Catchlight caused by a ring light

Ring lights also cause somewhat distracting circular catchlights in your eyes. Catchlights are specular highlights in your subject’s eye. Some may think these look really cool, and I agree, but to most they are considered undesirable.

You can debate about the strengths and weaknesses of these two lights all day. The truth is, if you want the ultimate lighting set up for your videos, your best option would actually be to buy both. The ring light can be a key light on your face while the Softbox light could fill in your background. Either of these products are strong choices for lights, but if you’ve got the budget for both, get both!

Softbox vs Umbrella – What’s the difference?

Now you understand what the difference between softboxes and rings, but what are umbrella lights? Umbrella lights are very similar to Soft Box lights but are often much cheaper. Umbrella lights usually have a wider spread than Softboxes (because they’re not boxes, duh), illuminating a much wider area. This also means that they have less directional control.

They are by far the most popular lighting choice as they are very cheap, portable, and simple to set up.

As you can see in the photo to the left, there is a subtle, yet important difference between the two. The lights are positioned in the exact same place, but the look has changed a lot. The photograph on the left is similar to a Facebook profile picture while the photo on the right more closely resembles a movie poster. The umbrella light spreads more evenly across the room. Less shadows are cast and the lighting is much less direct and dramatic, albeit still soft.

Umbrellas also require more energy and output from your light source, as they are not pointed directly at the subject.

Like we said about ring lights, these are two different tools that have some overlap, but are intended for different jobs. Of course, all of these tools are best when used in conjunction with each other, and a true production kit should have all of them.

Conclusion

Our verdict is this: If you are strictly a make-up or beauty YouTuber, or you Vlog at a desk, you should go with a ring light. They can come pretty cheap, they create flattering effects you can’t get anywhere else. They are extremely simple to set up, leaving you more time to invent more insane eyeliner tips. However, if you are interested in doing anything else in film, or just want to be able to have more options when it comes to lighting, you’ll need some softboxes. One is a good starting point, two is even better.

If you’ve determined that you are going to be needing a Ring Light for your video kit , check out our buyer’s guide for the best ring lights. We compared all the details of the 5 best ring lights and will help you make an excellent choice. We’re going to put a guide together for Softbox lights in the near future as well!